Bayou Beat News - April 2022

April 2022

Volume 1, Issue 1

A CONVERSATION WITH GEORGE

LIFE-SIZED STATUE TO BE INSTALLED AT TOM BASS PARK

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BUN B’S ‘TRILL BURGERS’ FEATURED AT COACHELLA

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HOUSTON ‘SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT’ FOR TEXAS LEGEND LIL KEKE’S 46TH BIRTHDAY

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EDITOR’S CORNER W

ELCOME TO BAYOU BEAT NEWS! Bayou Beats News remains true to its ‘Southern Roots’ while bringing the best headlines and topics readers need to know. From local “happenings” and community features, to the national news and beyond, we are dedicated to our commitment of providing content that is professional, entertaining and engaging. This publication was created in June 2020, amid a global pandemic, to be a true “voice” for the South, highlighting it and everything else the world has to offer.

Check out our monthly print publication for highlights, and see our website daily for updates.

We look forward to bringing you the best in the city!

Happy reading, Nakia Cooper Editor-in-Chief

LET’S CONNECT!

Editor-in-Chief Nakia Cooper Senior Writer N.C. Greene Writer Nevaeh Richardson Social Media Andrea Kotova Graphics Nathaniel Greene Photography Natalie Greene Correspondent/Live Interviews Ciara Ross @Iamciaraross Email: info@bayoubeatnews.com Advertisement: info@bayoubeatnews.com Subject line: ADS

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HOUSTON WOMAN DONATES LIFE-SIZE STATUE IN HONOR OF GEORGE FLOYD’S LEGACY

By: N. C. Greene

What if you could sit down and talk to George Floyd? Knowing what you know now, what would you say to him today?

Sadly, we’ll never be given that chance ever again, but we can always imagine, and a beautiful piece of art created in his honor just might help us do that.

Nearly two years after George Floyd’s death sparked a national outcry, a local entrepreneur is honoring his life in a way that she hopes will help America see the man whose death changed the world. Or, at least, how the world sees Black Americans.

Dannette Davis, of Kay Davis Associates, has donated a $110,000 statue of Floyd, the former Houston resident and Jack Yates High School alumnus, to Harris County.

The entrepreneur and philanthropist commissioned the piece, “A Conversation with George,” created by renowned sculptress Adrienne Rison-Isom.

Isom said that it took months of research and learning about Floyd to bring the life-sized bronze statue to life.

“I met with many of Floyd’s family and friends while creating this piece and everyone described him as having a playful, approachable temperament and human nature,” said Isom.

“I wanted to represent that by sculpting him with a nonintimidating facial expression and easy-going body language.”

From the beginning, Davis and Isom made it a point to

make sure that the Floyd Family Foundation was involved and approved of the sculpture.

“It’s his family and they need to be good with it and support,” said Davis. “If they are good with it, then we know that we have done our job.”

Commissioner Rodney Ellis, whose Precinct 1 includes the Third Ward neighborhood

tures Floyd’s peaceful demeanor as described by his family and friends,” Davis shared.

The sculpture depicts Floyd seated at an outdoor table welcoming everyone, all races and ethnic backgrounds to have a seat and join him.

The artist wanted the symbolism to reflect Floyd being an approachable guy who would

where Floyd grew up, was among the first supporters of the project, along with Houston Councilwoman Carolyn Shabazz. Both city leadersboth worked with the Kay Davis In The Community Foundation to choose the perfect location.

“Initially we thought of the Third Ward area until the idea of Tom Bass Park was mentioned. It was really an aha moment for us all. The beauty of Tom Bass, surrounded by the lakes and nature, really cap-

“spark” conversation or friendship with anyone.

Many may not know that Floyd was also an artist.

Floyd was a major part in the rise of one of Houston’s most notable rap groups, “The Screwed Up Click,” led by the late-great DJ Screw.

The group helped popularize the iconic “chopped and screwed” sound that has become synonymous with Houston rap.

“We all witnessed the impact

that George Floyd made on the world, but at the end of the day, he was a ‘regular guy’ with a few extraordinary talents,” Davis said. “He was an athlete and an artist, but he was also a father, a son, and a brother. Just like all of us, he was a multi-dimensional human trying to find his way in this world.”

Davis hopes that the statue will not only serve as a tribute to Floyd, but will also serve as a public histor bookmark, capturing a snapshot of the man whose death became a transformative moment in time for the nation.

“I think it’s important to focus on his humanity and ours, taking a break from the political messaging that typically follows the mentioning of his name,” Davis explained. “How do we make life better for the young people he cared about and mentored?

This gift of life-size art should make you ponder your life choices and future. It is also a beautiful, bronze piece to be appreciated and admired when visited.”

Davis believes that the statue will also show Floyd from a unique perspective and foster positive conversations on race.

The official unveiling of the statue will be held in May to honor the anniversary of Floyd’s death. Bayou Beat News will provide specific dates when released to the public, via online, in print or on our app.

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ON THE BEAT NATIONAL

KETANJI BROWN JACKSON, WITH CHOCOLATE SKIN AND NATURAL HAIR, CONFIRMED AS FIRST BLACK FEMALE SUPREME COURT JUSTICE By: N.C. Greene And just like that; she made history. Chocolate skin, natural hair and a huge smile, Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed by the Senate Thursday to soon become the first Black female Supreme Court Justice.

The tally was 53-47, with Republican Sens.

Susan Collins of Maine, Mitt Romney of Utah and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining Democrats to vote in favor.Jackson’s swearing in will be later this summer after Justice Stephen Breyer officially retires.

Until then, according to CNN, she will remain in her current position on the US Court of Appeals and will continue to recuse from all cases on the DC Circuit as she has since the President nominated her.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the moment a “joyous, momentous, groundbreaking day. He went on to say, “In the 233-year history of the Supreme Court, never, never has a Black woman held the title of Justice. Ketanji Brown Jackson will be the first and I believe the first of more to come.”

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LOCAL

END OF WATCH: DEPUTY JENNIFER CHAVIS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY By: Navaeh Richardson We at Bayou Beat News send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Precinct 7 Deputy Jennifer Chavis, who was tragically killed by a drunk driver in southwest Houston.

Chavis was a wife, mother, sister and so much more who leaves behind a 4-year-old son and 11-year-old nephew that she and her loving husband, Quincy, were raising.

Dedicated to a life of community service, Chavis also served in the Army for six years and worked with the recruitment team for the 2020 Census.

She received a degree in criminal justice from the University of Houston and went on the earn a Masters degree at Texas Southern University.

Chavis gave her life trying to protect the community she vowed to protect and serve.

Born on May 4, 1989, Chavis joined the Precinct 7 department on November 20, 2021 and assigned to work with the Toll Road Division.

According to Harris County Precinct 7 Constable May Walker, on April 2, Adolfo Serrano was driving a white utility truck westbound in the outside lane of traffic in the 7200 block of South Sam Houston Tollway West.

A witness called police to report the suspected drunk driver after observing SerraCONTINUE READING ON PAGE 9

COMMUNTY

HOUSTON BALLET ESTABLISHES ‘LAUREN ANDERSON YOUNG DANCER SCHOLARSHIP’ By: BB Staff Houston Ballet has announced the establishment of the Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship Fund in recognition of Houston Ballet’s first African American Principal Dancer, Lauren Anderson. The annual scholarship will provide vital support in perpetuity for up to four underrepresented artists who aspire to be professional ballet dancers and show great promise in their physical and artistic abilities. Covering the full annual tuition costs, this investment will aid in developing the next generation of elite ballet dancers. The Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship is Houston Ballet’s first endowed scholarship to be named for a dancer.

“Fifty years ago, I started at the Houston Ballet Academy on scholarship, which gave me the opportunity to begin my journey towards becoming a professional dancer. I never dreamt that I would reach the rank of Principal and wouldn’t have made it that far without that initial scholarship assistance,” said Anderson. “To now have a scholarship named after me means everything. Houston Ballet is the foundation of my life. I wouldn’t be me without this place.

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APRIL 2022 | 5

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BAYOU HEAT What’s hot along the bayou? “Bayou Heat” features the best restaurants, clubs, events and people in the South. Each edition, we will highlight something new and special YOU need to know about. Check out our latest happenings.

BUN B’S ‘TRILL BURGERS’ By: N.C. Greene

H-Town and P.A.T. represent! Things are continuing to soar for “Trill OG” Bun B. Coming off a record-breaking Black Heritage Night performance at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Mr. Bernard Freeman will

FEATURED AT COACHELLA

have his presence at yet another major event. But instead of being on stage feeding the crowd lyrics, he will be feeding the crowd juicy hamburgers. Trill Burgers, the popular smashburger concept from the UGK rap legend, will be serving at Coachella 2022 in Indio, Calif.

Trill Burgers will be a food vendor at Coachella for Weekends 1 (April 15-17) and 2 (April 22-24).

Menu offerings will include the OG and Grilled Onion Burgers with two smashed beef patties and Trill Sauce, plus a vegan smash burger with Beyond Meat and vegan cheese. Trill Burgers are served on Martin’s Potato Rolls buns.

“Trill Burgers is excited about the opportunity to present our food at Coachella this year,” Bun

B said. “We expect a large influx of people coming back to festivals, as we saw for the Rodeo. And we eagerly anticipate the opportunity to present the best burgers in the world at one of the biggest music festivals in the world. So pull and tap in with Trill Burgers.”

Launched in Houston last summer, Trill Burgers has hosted a series of pop-ups from Houston to California to Florida as the brand prepares for its first brick-andmortar location. It was a vendor at the 2022 Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, selling 11,936 burgers from its booth in Rodeo Plaza from Feb. 28 through March 20. Trill Burgers is now going from the world’s biggest Rodeo to one of the world’s biggest muSCAN ME TO sic festivals.

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About Trill Burgers

Trill Burgers is a smashburger concept launched in July 2021 by Bun B, Andy Nguyen, siblings Patsy and Benson Vivares and Nick Scurfield. The partners plan to open a brick-and-mortar location in Houston in 2022.

For more information, visit www.trillburgers.com or @trillburgers.

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ENTERTAINMENT

HOUSTON ‘SHOWED UP AND SHOWED OUT’ FOR TEXAS LEGEND LIL KEKE’S 46TH BIRTHDAY By: BB staff HOUSTON - The captain of the Original Screwed Up Click, Lil Keke celebrated his birthday on March 29 at one of Houston’s premier lounges, The Spot EaDo. The Blue and Black affair consisted of complimentary Courvoisier drinks on the patio, Infused Shrimp & Grits, A Nacho Bar, Seafood Kabobs, and desserts that were inspired by some of Lil Keke’s most favored lyrics.

The Don (Lil Keke) arrived in true class, with a black-on-black sprinter, as he was accompanied by his two sons and friends.

The guest list was nothing short of legendary as some of Houston’s top tier tal-

ent arrived such as Slim Thug, DJ XO, D Reck of Wreckshop Records, G-Dash of Swisha House, Propain, Big Ash of 713 Motors, Killa Kyleon, and SUC members Big Pokey, Lil O, and Lil Flip.

Guests were able to partake in Lil Keke’s special Cherry Cola Exotic Pop, as well as complimentary Gas Gods items. Many cheers were made throughout the evening along with several sing-alongs to some of Keke’s classic songs.

“Although I’m 46, I feel like I’m 26 and truly blessed”, Keke said.

It’s where my dreams came true, and I am so proud that this scholarship will give the next generation of aspiring young dancers from underrepresented communities an opportunity to reach further than they ever thought they could go.”

A native Houstonian, Anderson trained exclusively at Houston Ballet Academy starting at age seven. She joined the professional company in 1983, and in 1990, she became the first African American to be named Principal Dancer at Houston Ballet. Anderson remains one of the few African-American artists to hold the highest rank at a major ballet company in the U.S. [Proud Mama Moment: I will never forget when my daughter got the chance to meet – and get hugs and encouragement from – Lauren Anderson and Misty

Copeland. Forever an honor!]

After a 23-year career with Houston Ballet, Anderson continues inspiring and connecting the diverse communities of Houston with ballet through high-quality, community-centric educational programming as Associate Director of Education and Community Engagement.

“Lauren’s legacy in the world of classical ballet is unparalleled. She didn’t just get to the top, she burst through the ceiling. She made it possible for the generation that followed her to believe that level of success was possible. Not just to dance, but to achieve greatness as an artist,” said Houston Ballet Academy Director Jennifer Sommers. “Houston Ballet aims to protect that legacy with this scholarship, ensuring that the Houston Ballet Academy can continue to create an environment for all dancers to grow.

It is our mission that our student body reflects the city of Houston, the most diverse city in the

LAUREN CONT.

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country. This will allow us to reward deserving students based on their merit to receive the highest level of training.”

The Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship becomes the Academy’s 9th endowed scholarship, with over $500,000 in scholarships awarded per year through the Houston Ballet Foundation. Scholarships to the Academy provide support to ensure that talented students have the chance to pursue their dreams at Houston Ballet, regardless of their financial background.

The inaugural Lauren Anderson Young Dancer Scholarship Fund is established with a generous dollar-for-dollar challenge grant from Deborah and Edward Koehler. Supporters can donate to the Fund at give.houstonballet.org/lauren.

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ENTERTAINMENT

PHOTO CREDIT: AWAKENED VISION MEDIA

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8 | APRIL 2022

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NEWS WITH ATTITUDE

SLAPPING AWAY DOUBLE STANDARDS:

Will Smith showed there’s never a ‘convenient’ time to protect the Black woman

By: Ms. N.W.A.

“The most disrespected woman in America, is the Black woman. The most un-protected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America, is the Black woman.” — Malcolm X. At only 14 years old, Emmett Till was killed after being accused of whistling at, or offending, a white woman in her family’s grocery store. The Black Wall Street massacre of 1921 began after a Black 19-yearold shoeshiner was accused of assaulting a 17-year-old white elevator operator. The Rosewood massacre occurred after a white woman claimed she had been assault-

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ed by a Black man. All of these were lies, of course, and just last year, 22-year-old Barry Washington, a Black man from Oregon, was shot and killed after paying a white woman a compliment.

Lives have been lost when white women are “offended,” but when a Black woman is offended, her husband is crucified for “defending” her.

At the 2022 Academy Awards, comedian and actor Chris Rock made fun of a bald Jada Pinkett Smith, calling her “G.I. Jada,” apparently not knowing that she suffered a hair loss disorder, alopecia. And while Rock thought it was funny, Pinkett Smith did not, and when her husband saw the pain in her eyes, he did what any man who loves his

woman would do. Protect her.

Will Smith walked on stage, slapped the taste out of Rock’s mouth, then went back to his front row seat, leaving Rock stunned. Smith then shouted with force, “keep my wife’s name out of your fu$*ing mouth!”

For years, the “Everybody Hates Chris” creator has made Pinkett Smith the butt of his jokes. I guess Smith, compiled with everything else he’s been going through with his marriage being on display, just got fed up. We believe Rock got the message – leave Mrs. Smith alone.

So why is America so outraged?

To me, Rock using the “in the name of comedy” freedom of speech idea is a bogus excuse.

We women deserve better – especially Black women – , and we applaud Smith for stepping up. Now granted, he could have done it in a different way and at a different time. We definitely don’t condone violence!

To the people who argue that Smith took us back a hundred years, I tell you, he has not. He stood up for the hundreds of years of suffering the Black woman has endured. And yes, it’s sad that, oftentimes, it’s from our own kind.

Many people are pointing out that Rock has made tasteless jokes aimed at Blacks for quite some time now.

In the days follow-

ing the now infamous Oscar night, videos and interviews have been going viral of Rock seemingly putting down Blacks, with one particular clip showing him, Ricky Gervais and Louis C.K. throwing around the “N-Word” and mocking the wealth status of African Americans. The exchange clearly made legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld uncomfortable, prompting him to point out that use of the word was unnecessary.

Don’t get us wrong, even though we feel Rock was out of line making fun of another person’s medical condition, we do not believe Smith had the right to use violence. But we do need to point out that Smith is not the first celebrity to “act up” in public over a woman. Has everyone conveniently forgotten when another “Rock,” first name “Kidd,” punched Tommy Lee at the MTV VMA Awards over a beef that started over Pamela Anderson?

So what’s the difference between that situation and the recent one? Is just another example of “buck breaking,” which is what they did to strong Black men in the slave era.

Let’s set the record straight, no matter how people feel about the marital issues regarding the Smiths, Mrs. Smith was just as much a victim as Mr. Rock and she deserves to be protected.

There should be no double standard for protecting white women over our Black wives, mothers, daughters, etc. – period.

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REAL ESTATE

ARE YOU BEING TREATED FAIRLY AS A PROSPECTIVE BUYER OR RENTER? By: Marla Lewis

Marla Lewis is 2021-22 President of the Houston Black Real Estate Association (HBREA) April is National Fair Housing Month. While the real estate industry, like so many other businesses across the country, suffered the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, we cannot turn our backs on history and the important place to which it has led us.

Fifty-four years ago this month, April 11, 1968—just seven days after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.—President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968 into law. The Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, family status or disability, is part of that law.

I wish I could tell you that we no longer need laws to protect homebuyers and renters from discrimination. Unfortunately, we are not there yet.

How widespread is housing discrimination in the 21st century? Fair housing organizations receive close to 30,000 complaints each year, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), a

coalition of privately run fair housing groups. Yet testing suggests there are many more instances of discrimination— the NFHA estimates about 3.7 million annually.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has conducted thousands of tests in recent years.

HUD uses housing organizations that send testers out to view for-sale and rental properties as a means of determining whether landlords, lenders, agents, and others in the real estate community treat protected classes unfavorably and differently.

Housing discrimination takes many forms, but here are a few real-world scenarios: • An owner or landlord falsely tells you that his property or unit is unavailable because of your religion; • An agent only shows you homes in one neighborhood because that area has a high concentration of residents of your race; • A landlord asks you for a higher deposit on a rental unit than other tenants because you have kids; • A landlord refuses to accommodate your need as a disabled tenant, such as allowing a service animal or installing grab-bars in bathrooms.

When people think about fair housing violations, they usually conjure up images of a slammed door or a restrictive advertisement. But violations of the Fair Housing Act are not only about a living situation or steering allegations. There are problems in the lending industry, as well. Because the lending process is so complex, it’s difficult to identify discrimination with any consistency.

You may know that the 1.5 million members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), National Association of Real Estate Brokers (NAREB), National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), Asian American Real Estate Association (AAREA) and other real estate associations pledge to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics that holds them to higher professional standards than what state and federal law require. However, as national awareness of racial inequalities grew following the George Floyd murder, the Code of Ethics was amended to ban harassing speech, hate speech, epithets or slurs based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation, or gender identity by its members. Under the new policy, real estate agents who insult, threaten or harass people based on race, sex, or other legally protected characteristics can be investi-

gated, fined or expelled.

NAREB was formed in 1947, and our local chapter, the Houston Black Real Estate Association (HBREA) formed shortly after, in 1949, dedicated to “Democracy in Housing,” and helped lead the fight for the “Fair Housing Laws of 1968” and continuing improvements.

Violations of fair housing laws are not always obvious or easy to detect. After all, unless victims are somehow able to compare their experience to someone else’s, they likely have no reason to suspect any prejudice ever occurred. Fair housing laws do have teeth, however. So, if you believe you’ve been the victim of housing discrimination, you can submit a formal complaint with HUD (www.HUD.gov) and any local private housing enforcement agency.

Right now, we are all doing our part to put the pandemic behind us. But it is critical in the meantime that we each also do our part to make sure that home buyers and renters everywhere are treated fairly, equally and with dignity. Ask questions if something didn’t “feel right” about the service and direction your transaction is going.

HBREA is here to find answers to community concerns, questions and situations affecting real estate related activities.

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LIFESTYLE

5 SELF-CARE TIPS TO PRACTICE AT HOME: EASY AND FREE! By: Nevaeh Richardson

Social media has altered society’s views on what self care actually is. accessible for only the most luxurious of people, with expensive days with all the works, and all those things are great and something to something more simple and personal that won’t leave us staring at our introduce you to some free and impactful self care tips to incorporate

1. Get up & go on a walk.

That’s right girl, I did just tell you to get off that couch and get some fresh air. The healing power of being in nature is so underrated. It can be something you plan for. Find a trail, park, or woods near you and experience being in the moment under the spring sun. I have incorporated daily walks in a trail behind my apartment complex and it has been life changing. I’ve been able to take a pause from classwork, projects, adulting, and come back to the task at hand more motivated and focused. I highly recommend this act of self care.

2. Dance like nobody’s watching.

For some of us who are introverted and morbidly afraid of being judged, this can be a hard task to complete. I have never been much of a dancer, mainly because I’m just not good at it (please don’t take my Black card, it’s all I have left). Someone could kidnap me, hold me at gunpoint, and command me to Dougie like my life depends on it, and that would be the end of Nevaeh Richardson.

But within this last month, something magical happened to me. I managed to gather some courage (or plain recklessness) and went to SCAN ME TO SUBSCRIBE

New York City for the first time, by myself.

Yeah. If you’re impressed, you should be.

During that four-day trip, I discovered Afro-Brazilian samba classes. I absolutely fell in love with the culture and the dance style. Was I good at it?

Absolutely not. In fact, I was placed in the back of the class.

But it allowed me to bring myself out of my head and into the task at hand. It was a beautiful experience, and one I plan on continuing.

You don’t have to pay for courses, there are plenty of free online dance tutorials. So get out there, and dance like there’s not a crowd of people staring at the atrocity you call dancing.

3. Your mind is a tornado, your house probably is too.

If you’re anything like me, when your mind is out of whack, your space probably is too. You’re up ripping and running all day and when you finally sit down, it’s to stare soullessly into your laptop screen. You’re either too busy or too tired to fix your space, and the more chaotic it gets, the more it adds to your stress levels.

So clean it. Take a pause from your other activities to prioritize your sanctuary. The act of cleaning and organizing itself has become sort of a meditation for me. Pair cleaning with

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It’s been portrayed as something restaurants, solo trips to Mexico, spa strive for. But there are times we want bank accounts in regret. I’m here to into your stressful daily routines.

some good music, and it’s one of the best things ever, aside from the feeling of accomplishment as you look at your freshly organized space.

It is with pride that I light my candles and incense in a clean space, it always feels like putting icing on cake. Cleaning often leads me to other things, such as putting up new decorations, or changing the Feng shui of my space.

4. Put the phone down and read a goddamn book!

I used to be an avid reader. Now my books stare at me with contempt as my face is planted in my phone. Your phone is probably one of the main reasons you’re stressed. Your checking emails, you’re watching everyone else’s seemingly better life, you’re watching your crush on a date with his girlfriend, you’re on Twitter reading the worst takes of your life and it’s depleting whatever hope you had left in the world, and countless stories of injustice leaves you feeling heavy and hopeless.

I’m here to tell you (and myself ), it’s time to put the damn phone down and pick up a book. It can be any book, a new book, a book you’ve read before, just make sure it’s a real book with real pages (none of that Kindle nonsense).

It’s high time you enjoy some brief escapism, whether you’re

escaping to a world of fantasy, self-improvement, poetry, or science. The practice of reading calms you, gives your eyes a break from the screens of sorrow, and leaves you more knowledgeable than before.

5. When things seem bleak, remember to have gratitude.

It is too easy to get caught up in the descending spiral of what is going wrong in your life. When we’re stuck in this spiral, we fail to acknowledge the countless blessings and gifts in our lives that can come in the form of people, of health, of having somewhere safe to sleep, of the warmth of Spring time, etc.

We’re designed to look for the negative, it’s a survival mechanism, but it doesn’t mean we can’t rewire the way we think.

Practicing gratitude is something I often forget to do, but I find that when I am actively grateful, I can’t help but find the abundance of blessings in a bleak situation. It encourages me to move forward, knowing that there are more gifts to come, just as there are more misfortunes.

I like to practice by writing at least three things that I’m grateful for in a journal or whiteboard. You can do this when you first wake up, or do it as your day comes to a close.

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IKEOMA’S EYE

INTRODUCING IKEOMA’S EYE Ikeoma (I kE Oma) Divine, who grew up in southwest Houston, is a Southern American rootworker and the owner of Ikeoma’s Eye and 3rd Eye Lounge, a store she originally launched in Charleston, South Carolina.

This registered nurse, affectionately known by her peers as “Kiki,” is a spiritual counselor who exhibited mediumship gifts during childhood. She began her astrology studies in 2003, later studying tarot in 2007. Growing up in the Pentecostal church in Louisiana, Ikeoma learned the ancestral practices of Rootwork and ceremonies she later experienced in Ghana (Ewe ceremonies), Brazil (Umbanda and Santo Daime ceremonies), Haiti

no’s truck weaving and swerving in the lanes. Deputy Chavis was dispatched to respond to the call and stopped in the traffic ahead of Serrano on the entrance ramp.

Serrano, failing to drive in a single lane, struck Chavis’ marked patrol vehicle.

Serrano’s truck continued striking the outside barrier of the tollway, while Chavis rotated counterclockwise coming to rest in the number 4 lane of the tollway. Chavis’ patrol unit became engulfed in flames immediately after the crash.

She died at the scene.

Serrano was transported by EMS to Ben Taub Hospital where he exhibited signs of impairment. The Harris County District Attorney’s Office team accepted charges of intoxication manslaughter of a peace officer, and his bond was set at $750,000.

“With heavy hearts, the City of Houston extends our condolences to the family and colleagues of Harris County Precinct 7 Deputy Jennifer Chavis, who died tragCHAVIS CONT.

(Voodoo ceremonies and initiation), and South Africa (Sangoma ceremonies).

Kiki follows in the steps of her paternal great-grandmother who was also a midwife and nurse in SC, her maternal great grandmother who was an herbalist and her great-aunt who was also a nurse in VA. She utilizes tarot, bones, astrology and mediumship as divination tools.

Ikeoma’s holistic approach to healing encompasses conventional and alternative methods used to treat the whole person (including physical, mental, emotional and spiritual aspects) rather than simply managing the signs and symptoms of a diagnosed disease.

Through her business, Ikeoma’s

Eye, she provides workshops, advice and insight on love, health, business and guidance to rediscover one’s life purpose. She opens herself up to the community more at 3rd Eye Lounge – a boutique botanica -where she hosts community-based workshops based on ancestral practices.

“I believe everyone should know their purpose and follow their paths, and I am here to help my poeple do just that,” Ikeoma says.

Monthly, Ikeoma will share different topics with Bayou Beat readers, with the intention of helping others heal mentally, physically, holistically and spiritually.

Trust the process, as we embark on this journey together.

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ically Saturday evening when a suspected drunk driver struck her vehicle,” said Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner. “There are too many impaired drivers on our roads. As a result, people are being seriously injured or killed. There is no excuse for endangering the lives of law enforcement and innocent motorists. I ask you to be responsible and stay off the roads.”

Harris County Constable Precinct 7 law enforcement officials and deputies escorted Chavis’ body from the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences to Claire Brothers Funeral Home on Tuesday, April 5. The motorcade was provided by members of the Houston Police Department and the Harris County Sherriff ’s Office.

Funeral services were held on Wednesday, April 13 at the Fountain of Praise Church located at 13950 Hillcroft Avenue. After police honors, a procession followed to Liberty, Texas, where Chavis was buried.

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